Nelson Probable For Kansas Contest on Sunday

By Bruin Basketball Report

UCLA faces No.1 ranked Kansas on Sunday afternoon at Pauley Pavilion in the the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series.

The Bruins (2-4) are hopeful to have freshman Reeves Nelson back and ready for action.  

Nelson returned to practice today and completed a full practice with the team. He was injured Tuesday in practice and an MRI was negative on Wednesday. 

The freshman forward/center had missed the end of Tuesday's practice as well as practices on Wednesday and Thursday. 

He is probable for the Bruins' game on Sunday, where he is slated to start at center.

The Jayhawks (6-0) are coming off a 98-31 win against Alcorn State on Wednesday. UCLA has lost three straight including a 79-68 loss to Long Beach State on the final day of the 76 Classic.

Kansas ranks third in NCAA Division I history in all-time wins with 1,976, while UCLA is ninth with 1,648 victories.

Nelson Hyperextends Knee, Honeycutt Returns To Practice

By Bruin Basketball Report

A rough week just became more tumultuous in Westwood. 

Freshman post man  Reeves Nelson hyperextended his right knee and was unable to finish practice yesterday, the UCLA Athletic department announced today.

He had an MRI late Tuesday night and the results were negative. 

Nelson did not practice today and will miss tomorrow's practice as well. He is slated to return to practice on Friday, Dec. 4, two days before UCLA hosts No. 1 Kansas as part of the Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series. 

Nelson was slated to start his first collegiate game this weekend with the departure of sophomore Drew Gordon.  The freshman is averaging 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 14.8 minutes a game.

One bright note for UCLA, freshman forward Tyler Honeycutt returned to practice yesterday for the first time since Nov. 7 when an MRI confirmed he had a stress reaction in his right tibia. 

Honeycutt practiced for 30 minutes on Tuesday with full contact and for 45 minutes today. 

Coach Howland's plan is to increase Honeycutt's practice time by 15 minutes each day until Saturday when he will go for an hour and a half. 

Honeycutt should be available to play for the Bruins against Kansas. He has missed the first six games of the 2009-10 season.

Drew Gordon To Leave UCLA Program

By Bruin Basketball Report

Sophomore center Drew Gordon is no longer a member of the UCLA men’s basketball team by mutual agreement, head coach Ben Howland announced today. 

“After several discussions with Drew, we both have decided that it is in the best interests of our program and Drew that he continues his career at another school,” Howland said. 

“He is no longer a member of our team and will transfer at the end of the quarter.
“This is not a spur of the moment decision and ultimately, it’s what’s best for all parties.”

Gordon, UCLA's starting center, was the team's third-leading scorer averaging 11.2 points and was second on the squad in rebounds with 5.3 per game in 6  games.  He averaged 24.5 minutes per contest.

Gordon's departure leaves a gapping hole in the middle for the Bruins, but it opens up opportunities for freshman Reeves Nelson and sophomore J'mison Morgan to show they can contribute. 

Nelson has been a solid frosh contributor this season averaging 7.3 points and 4.3 rebounds in just 14.8  minutes per game.  While Morgan has played sparingly this year but is expected to see more time on the court with the departure of Gordon.

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (11/30)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.  

Commits 

Mater Dei went on to a 31-2 season, with the Monarchs' only losses to M.L. King of Riverside in the CIF-Southern Section I-AA final, and to Fairfax of Los Angeles in the CIF Southern California Regionals. This year's Mater Dei team won't be as tall, with the Wear twins, 6-foot-11 David and Travis, now at North Carolina. But the Monarchs will be as quick as ever, with guards Gary Franklin (6-foot-3, signed with Cal), Tyler Lamb (6-5, UCLA) and Keala King (6-6, Arizona State, transferred from Dominguez of Compton). OC Varsity 11/26

Recruits (See List of Prospects)

The Panthers are loaded. Branden Dawson is one of the best players in the country. Latroy Taylor and Brandon Bradford are pretty good compliments too. Perhaps no team in Northwest Indiana has more athletic guys that check in at around 6-5 than the Panthers. The challenge for Dawson will be to keep everyone happy and to make sure everyone shares. Dawson needs to get more involved offensively if Wallace is going to make a deep run in the tournament. Post Tribune 11/23

Most opponents expect the Cardinals, who were 28-8 last year, to get the ball to 6-9 Angelo Chol, a junior who set the national record for blocked shots in a season with 337. Chol, who was named to the U.S. National Junior squad but was unable to play when the team won a world title this summer because his citizenship hasn't been finalized, said the honors and camps have been a positive. “It hasn't been a distraction,” said Chol, who was born in Sudan and is on every list of the nation's top juniors. “I've taken the stuff I've learned in camp and brought it back. “I'm still primarily a shot blocker, but I've worked hard to get more rebounds and points this year. I face up to the basket more and I've worked hard to learn how to go by people.” Chol said he was a little surprised and very pleased to find that the atmosphere isn't what it used to be when the players get together in open gym. “We really go at it,”Chol said. “We have a lot of very tough guys this year. The competition is high.” Union Tribune 11/24

Junior guard Nick Johnson continues to be a viable scoring source and a walking human highlight reel, as he may be quietly one of the most spectacular dunkers in the nation.  Bleacher Report 11/24

Findlay beat Carbondale (Ill.) Brehm Prep, 74-59. Joseph led the way with 22 points and 7 rebounds. Thompson had 18 points and 11 boards, and junior guards Jabari Brown (13 points, 6 boards) and Nick Johnson (13 points) chipped in for the Pilots. Las Vegas Sun 11/27

Bruins Struggle Against 49ers, Lose Third Straight

By Bruin Basketball Report

Box Score

UCLA finished the 76 Classic tournament with a disastrous exclamation point, losing in the seventh place-game to Long Beach St., 79-68.

The Bruins, now 2-4, lost to the 49ers for the first time in history in the debacle.

The only two bright spots in the game for UCLA were Michael Roll with a season-high 23 points and freshman Reeves Nelson who came off the bench to add 11 points and 8 rebounds.

UCLA's individual and team defense were horrendous, allowing Long Beach St. to hit 53.6% for the game and 64.3% in the second half.

In a more competitive contest against Butler on Friday, the Bruins went inside for many of their scores but abandoned the strategy against Long Beach and instead tried to strike from the perimeter. 

But UCLA struggled from the outside, hitting just 3 of 20 three-pointers.  Nikola Dragovic was 0-6 from beyond the arc.

The Bruins do not catch a break with upcoming tough games against Kansas and Mississippi St. in what already has the makings for a very long season for UCLA basketball fans.